BioGold Fuels, Kansas county announce MSW project

California-based BioGold Fuels Corp. and Harvey County, Kan., have announced a joint effort to efficiently dispose of the county's municipal solid waste (MSW).

Terms of the agreement, which have been in progress for the past year and are being further developed, will require the delivering of the county's waste to BioGold's proposed biorefinery to be built by ICM Inc. BioGold will receive $35 per ton of waste it receives from Harvey County. It's expected to process approximately 33,500 tons yearly. BioGold can also bring in additional waste from neighboring counties. The agreement includes a lease for approximately 32 acres of land, the county's existing transfer station, and eleven pieces of the county's waste processing and hauling equipment and vehicles for a fee of $1 per year. The 30-year term agreement includes the option for 4 additional ten year extensions.

BioGold is currently under negotiations with ICM to design and build the facility, which will be collocated with Harvey County's closed landfill.

"There are a lot of advocates of this project, a lot of people doing good things for it," BioGold chief executive officer Steve Racoosin said. "The county, its administration, and its commissioners are very pro-active in searching out green alternatives."

After five years, BioGold will begin to pay Harvey County five percent of its annual net profits, generated from the sale of products produced on the site. BioGold plans to sell engineered fuel cubes, synthetic diesel fuel, and organic chemicals that will be made from the processed waste.

"We believe that the amount of waste that ends up having to be dumped in a landfill will be reduced by 85 to 90 percent," Racoosin said.

According to Racoosin, a groundbreaking date will be announced upon completion of the engineering and financing components. He expects a completion date to occur within two and a half years.

"We take pride in doing what we do," he added. "We believe that trash is an asset and not a liability. If every American's trash went to projects like this, it could be another way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. They can feel good that 100 percent of their waste may go to helping out their country."